Damage caused by a World War II bomb, asbestos, pollution … new discoveries have raised the bill for the restoration of Big Ben, which must restore its “splendor” to the iconic London tower, in work for two years.
The cost of renovating the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the famous clock and its bell, will now reach nearly 80 million pounds sterling (95 million euros) against 30 million initially, announced Thursday the British Parliament. After having already required an extension of 32 million pounds (38 million euros) in 2017, the restoration now needs nearly 19 million additional pounds, (22 million euros).
Reopening planned for 2021
The restoration is “more complex than expected,” said Ian Ailles, director general of the House of Commons, in a statement. Despite these additional costs, which must be approved by the offices of the two chambers of the British Parliament, the reopening to the public of the tower culminating at 96 meters is still planned for 2021.
The work consists of repairing the dial and clock mechanism, cracks in the masonry of the tower and corrosion of the roof, as well as restoring the border around the dial to restore it to its original 19th century color. The neo-Gothic building of the architect Augustus Pugin completed in 1856 has suffered considerably from the ravages of time and now leans 46 cm from the vertical.
Despite the attempts of the most fervent supporters of Brexit who wanted to hear it to mark the occasion, Big Ben remained silent on January 31 when the United Kingdom left the European Union. Instead, an image of the clock was projected onto the facade of Downing Street, the Prime Ministers’ residence, and a recording of the bell sounded.
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